How to Clean Can Koozies and Hill City Howlers Drinkware

By Hill City Howlers Official Store | Published: 2026-10-15

Category: Tips & Care

A step-by-step game day drinkware cleaning routine for can koozies, tumblers and cups, including how to keep printed koozie graphics from fading.

Quick answer

Wash can koozies by hand in cool water with a drop of mild dish soap, rinse, and air-dry them open-side down. Skip the dishwasher and hot water, which are the fastest ways to warp foam and fade printed graphics. Tumblers and cups follow the same cool, gentle routine, with a bottle brush for lids and straws.

Why drinkware care is different from laundry day

Koozies, tumblers and cups collect two things laundry does not: sticky drink residue on the inside and skin oils, sunscreen and bug spray on the outside. Those outside residues are what dull a printed design over time, so a quick rinse after each use does more for longevity than a deep clean once a month.

Heat is the other variable. Hot water and dishwasher drying cycles soften foam, loosen adhesives and stress printed inks, which is why hand washing is the default for anything with a graphic on it. Cool or lukewarm water cleans just as well when you add a little soap and agitation.

Set up a two-bowl station before game day

Fill one bowl with cool water and a drop of mild dish soap, and a second with plain cool water for rinsing. Keep a soft sponge or microfiber cloth for the printed surfaces and a bottle brush for lids, straws and narrow tumbler mouths. A dedicated drinkware station means you can clean a koozie in under a minute between quarters instead of letting sticky residue sit overnight, which is when stains and odors set in.

Handle tumblers and cups by their parts

Tumblers and cups reward a parts-first approach: separate the lid, gasket and straw, then wash each piece individually so residue does not hide in the seams. The gasket is the usual culprit behind a lingering smell, so rub it gently between your fingers under running water. If your tumbler came with a manufacturer care label, follow it over any general advice here, since materials and coatings vary by model.

For insulated cups, never submerge a vacuum-sealed body in water for long periods or put it in the dishwasher unless the maker says it is safe. Water can work into the seal and ruin insulation, and that damage is not reversible.

Dry and store so nothing smells musty

Air-dry koozies open-side down on a dish rack so water drains out instead of pooling in the base. Tumblers and cups should dry upside down with lids and straws laid separately; trapped moisture in a closed lid is the main cause of that sour smell people blame on the cup itself. Once fully dry, store koozies loose in a drawer rather than stacked tightly, which traps residual moisture and can press creases into foam.

Your step-by-step drinkware cleaning routine

Step 1: Empty and rinse immediately: Dump leftover ice and liquid, then rinse the koozie, tumbler or cup in cool water before residue dries. Common mistake: leaving a half-full koozie in a hot car or on the counter overnight, which lets sugar and cream set into the surface. Checkpoint: the inside should feel slick, not tacky, before you move on.
Step 2: Wash by hand with mild soap: Add one drop of mild dish soap to cool water and wipe the inside and outside with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. For tumblers, wash the lid, gasket and straw separately with a bottle brush. Common mistake: using hot water or a scouring pad, which dulls printed graphics and scratches coatings. Checkpoint: if the water feels hot to your hand, it is too hot for printed drinkware.
Step 3: Rinse thoroughly in cool water: Rinse until no suds remain, paying attention to the rim of koozies and the threads and gasket of tumbler lids. Common mistake: skipping the gasket and straw interior, where soap film and residue collect and later cause off smells. Checkpoint: no slippery feel and no visible bubbles when you run a finger along the seams.
Step 4: Air-dry open-side down: Place koozies open-side down on a dish rack and set tumblers, cups, lids and straws upside down or on their sides to dry completely. Common mistake: toweling dry with a heavy cloth or storing while damp, which traps moisture and can crease foam. Checkpoint: fully dry before storage, especially inside lids and gaskets.
Step 5: Store loose and repeat after every game day: Keep koozies loose in a drawer or bin rather than stacked tightly, and store tumblers with lids off so air can circulate. Common mistake: treating this as a once-a-season chore; a quick rinse after each use is what actually keeps printed graphics from fading. Next step: keep a small bottle of mild soap and a microfiber cloth with your game day gear so the routine takes under a minute.

Hill City Howlers drinkware at a glance

Hill City Howlers Murray the Mummy Can Koozie: The Murray the Mummy Can Koozie is designed to fit standard cans and help maintain your beverage's temperature, with a mummy-themed design. Because it is built for standard cans and temperature retention, hand washing and open-side-down drying protect both the fit and the printed design.